Former President Bill Clinton tells fells Democrats to concentrate on issues and getting voters to polls

Concentrate on expanding Medicaid, raising the minimum wage and getting Democrats elected in 2014.

That was former President Bill Clinton’s rally cry to Florida Democrats Saturday night at the Florida Democratic Party’s Leadership Blue Gala in Hollywood.

The annual fundraising dinner gave Democrats across the state a chance to meet candidates and gear up for the November elections.

“Folks, we have to concentrate,” Clinton said. “We have the issues. We have the candidates. We have to concentrate on the message and the mechanics.”

Clinton spoke for more than 40 minutes, touching on issues important to his Democratic base. The former president, who campaigned heavily in Florida in the final days of the 2012 presidential election, focused on health care, raising the minimum wage and improving the economy — in and out of Florida.

And while he refrained from mentioning the state’s Republican leadership by name, Clinton told supporters it’s important for Floridians to get out to the polls and elect Democrats come November.

“You can say all you want, you can have all the good positions in the world, you can have great candidates, but if we’re going to preserve democracy, real democracy, we’ve got to just show up,” Clinton said.

Clinton said there are 130 million people who “will vote in every presidential election,” but 50 million of those are not “faithful in voting in nonpresidential years.”

Those votes, he said, are disproportionately Democrats. Turning out in November, he said, could mean a Democrat in the Florida governor’s mansion.

“If you believe Florida is the state of the future, if you believe what I told you about what you can do for you own people, for the American people then go out there and explain,” he said. “Explain, explain and figure out how to physically get people to the polls.”

While Clinton didn’t mention Republican Gov. Rick Scott of Naples by name, other top Democrats from across the state did. In a recorded message to the more than 1,500 people in attendance, Florida Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson said it was time to send Scott back to Naples — eliciting boos from a contingent of Collier County Democrats in the ballroom.

Tant said the gubernatorial race is a top priority for Democrats in 2014, and said the state plans to build the “largest field plan” the state party has ever seen.

“We will not be outworked. We will not be out-organized. We will make that last phone call. We will knock on that last door,” she said. “And in November, we will win. Rick Scott will be a one-term governor.”

Tant said the event raised more than $1.1 million. While this year’s event was expected to rally Democrats in advance of the November election, candidates were not the focus of the two-hour dinner Saturday evening.

However, Tant said, candidates had the chance to meet with clubs and caucuses throughout the day on Saturday.

“We have so much at stake,” said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fort Lauderdale, chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee. “Florida voters have a clear choice. We have to decide whether or not to choose to move Florida forward or more of the same. The bottom line is Florida cannot afford another four years of Rick Scott.”

Democratic candidates for governor, including former state Sen. Nan Rich and former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, attended Saturday night’s event.

Crist, who is running for the seat as a Democrat, didn’t attend events during the day, like Rich, but was greeted warmly by Democrats when he arrived to the Westin Diplomat around 6 p.m. He was swarmed by supporters and said he wasn’t upset by the fact he wouldn’t get a chance to address the crowd.

“It’s always an honor to be here with Bill Clinton,” he said.

Crist said the event, formerly known as the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, is a chance to get people excited about the future and the candidates.

“We’re fired up and ready to go,” he said. “That’s what this is all about.”

Republicans used Crist’s appearance to once again demand he release his wife’s tax returns.

“If Charlie Crist believes in transparency, he will release his spouse’s tax returns like Governor Scott, Alex Sink, Jeb Bush and Bill Clinton,” Florida GOP Chairwoman Leslie Dougher said. “And if Charlie believes in transparency, he will stop dodging debates with lifelong Democrat Nan Rich. The longer he waits to release his spouse’s tax returns and debate Nan Rich, the more it makes us wonder what he’s hiding.”

Clinton said he first came to Florida in 1981 for the fundraising dinner, and has been back dozens of times since. In 2012, Clinton campaigned heavily for President Barack Obama in Florida in the waning days of the presidential election.

As Clinton wrapped up his speech Saturday, hoarse and on the verge of losing his voice, he reminded Democrats to keep his message in mind.